Chapter 109: Chapter 997: Just Leave It Be (Part 2)
In a temporary retreat in the Yangtze River basin, hastily arranged by the Shaolin and Kongtong Sects, a frigid voice emanated from a room located deep within.
"Please provide an explanation."
Peng Yeop, the head of the Hebei Peng family, and known as "Lightning Quick Blade," reproached Beopjeong, the leader of the Shaolin Sect Beopjeong inwardly sighed.
"Bangjang."
"I'm listening, Peng Gaju."
"Why is it so difficult for you to explain why this has happened?"
"Gaju."
"I've heard many stories on my way here, but one voice stands out."
Peng Yeop stared intently at Beopjeong as he spoke.
"Shaolin abandoned convention and morality and left the Namgung Family stranded on Plum Blossom Island."
Beopjeong closed his eyes.
"And during the inaction of the Shaolin and Kongtong Sects, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance took it upon himself to rescue the Namgung Family without any losses."
"..."
"Bangjang."
Peng Yeop bit his lip and continued.
"Please answer. What on earth has happened? Are the things I've heard really true?"
"Amida Buddha."
Beopjeong softly exhaled. It seemed like an attempt to soothe his troubled mind. But to Peng Yeop, that exhalation sounded like Beopjeong deflecting responsibility.
"Please speak to us."
"Stop it!"
However, the one raising their voice was not Beopjeong, but Jonglihyung, a senior member of the Kongtong Sect from Bokma Mountain.
Jonglihyung glared at Peng Yeop with furious eyes.
"Do you have the right to make such statements, Master Peng?"
"Why don't I have the right to speak?"
"While the Shaolin and our Kongtong Sect were doing their best here on the Yangtze River, where was the Peng family?"
"..."
"Even if the distance from the Peng family to this place is considerable, this is not the time for you to arrive now! Who has the right to appear and give orders after the task is completed?"
"Obtaining the family's permission took time."
"Do you think that's an excuse?"
Peng Yeop shot an icy glare at Jonglihyung. However, he had a point. When they arrived, everything was already over.
"If North Peng Family had arrived on time, we might have been able to make a difference! What were we supposed to do on our own when the reinforcements we were expecting didn't come?"
"Are you saying that Namgung was left to die, regardless of the circumstances?"
"Stop twisting my words! You're going too far!"
"Am I wrong in what I'm saying?"
The voices were getting louder. Beopjeong silently observed the two men arguing. Peng Yeop seemed ready to stand up at any moment and confront Jonglihyung, but then he suddenly let out a deep sigh.
"...I apologize."
"..."
Out of the blue, Peng Yeop issued an apology, which momentarily left Jonglihyung speechless. He glanced at Peng Yeop, then blushed and cleared his throat.
"No, I... I spoke too harshly, Peng Gaju."
"..."
Peng Yeop made an unexpected apology, causing Jonglihyung to falter momentarily before closing his mouth. Then Peng Yeop looked at him briefly and blushed, clearing his throat.
"No, I didn't know I would arrive here so late either. All the elders, including Tae Sang Janglos, opposed it."
"I see."
The rules of the Five Great Families were different. Unlike other sects that accepted disciples as needed, the Five Great Families was a family tradition passed down through generations. The transition to the next clan leader occurred when the successor reached the appropriate age.
The problem was when that transition happened quickly. Even if they stepped back from the frontline, the older Taesang Janglos and the previous family heads who still had strength would often interfere like so many regents, waiting to take the reins.
The Namgung Family had the Sword Emperor, who rose to his position rather late in life, which meant that such issues didn't affect them. However, it was a common problem in the Five Great Families. Especially in the case of a family like the Peng Family, where the meddlesome Taesang Janglos were all family elders, it was particularly challenging to put an end to their opinions. They were known for being unrelenting.
"I understand."
Jonglihyung nodded. But deep down, he had a different thought.
'It's fortunate that the Peng family didn't arrive on time.'
Would the situation have been different if the Peng family had arrived? Well, even if the Peng family had joined early, Beopjeong would not have changed his mind. More criticism would have likely been directed at him. It's as if the dominant sects in Kangho gathered in one place and just watched without intervening while things happened across the river. It's better that Peng Yeop arrived late, as they could use it as an excuse.
"So, what do you plan to do now?"
"...What do you mean?"
"The events that have already unfolded can't be changed. Shouldn't we discuss what to do next?"
At Peng Yeop's words, Jonglihyung nodded. He had also been frustrated.
Beopjeong had silently maintained his position here.
"Bangjang."
When Peng Yeop called him, Beopjeong finally spoke.
"First..."
"Yes."
"I must apologize. Because of my foolishness as the leader, both sects are enduring a disgrace that they shouldn't have, even if the two sects hadn't gone through it because of my mistakes."
Beopjeong bowed deeply.
"No, Bangjang."
"Why are you saying that?"
Jonglihyung both denied Beopjeong's apology and inwardly smiled bitterly. He had sighed seeing Chung Myung and Beopjeong in opposition.
But he couldn't express his discontent with Shaolin and Beopjeong. If there had been another hill to curse Kongtong instead of Shaolin, they wouldn't have had to come all the way to the Yangtze River in the first place.
In any case, they were sects that shared a boat with Shaolin. Regardless of life or death, they had to rely on Shaolin. And Peng Yeop's family would likely be the same.
The situation was that the Namgung and Sichuan Tang families had left the original Five Great Families. This meant the three remaining families would now compete with each other to gain the upper hand. Now it would be a situation of the three leading families rather than Five Great Families. However, in the densely packed power games, even such a small name as the leader of the five major families was important. In this situation, the Peng family would undoubtedly need the power of Shaolin.
No matter how much Shaolin had distanced itself from its former absolute position, wasn't it still Shaolin? Even the authority and power that Shaolin currently had would be enough to suppress the two sects that weren't the Namgung or Tang Family.
In the first place, it was a bold move, ignoring the opposition of the Taesang elders and the former family heads. Even if he came back empty-handed, he had to get absolute support from Shaolin to avoid criticism for turning things upside down. Rather, it was a situation where Peng Yeop had to cling to Beopjeong more than Jonglihyung.
"But... in the end, we have to go through everything to know the result."
"...Does that mean the situation here on the Yangtze River is not over yet?"
"That's correct."
Beopjeong said with a serious expression.
"Right now, everyone is too fixated on small matters. The reason we originally gathered the Righteous Sects wasn't to save Namgung, right?"
"Ah..."
Jonglihyung looked at Beopjeong as if he had just remembered it. This was something he had forgotten.
"Originally, the reason we gathered was that the evil organization the Evil Tyrant Alliance showed signs of invading Kangho. It wasn't to save Namgung."
"Yes, Bangjang."
Jonglihyung nodded his head in haste as he felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps it was nothing more than an excuse, but Jonglihyung knew that there were people who believed with their eyes closed.
"If you forget what you have to do because the world criticizes you, a bigger disaster will come."
"...Do you really think that the Evil Tyrant Alliance can attack Gangbuk like this?"
"Yes. I believe there is a high probability."
"But really..."
"Otherwise, there is no reason why the advance unit of the Su Lo Chae would still be stationed on the Yangtze River. Originally, wasn't it impossible for us to attack Gangnam because of the treacherous situation on the Yangtze River?"
"Now that I think about it..."
Jonglihyung made a subtle expression. It didn't make sense for them to camp there in the first place. Even if they were accustomed to life on a ship, it would not be easy to indefinitely wait on a supply-poor ship.
"Well, Bangjang. If they attack, it will be difficult for our three sects to handle."
Honestly, Jonglihyung had no idea.
He had not had a proper sense of how much power the Evil Tyrant Alliance had. However, what was clear was that if a war broke out, the three sects would bear the brunt of the damage.
"That can never happen."
Beopjeong scratched Jonglihyung's itch.
"Let's send official letters to other sects."
"Official letters, you say?"
"Yes."
Beopjeong nodded.
"The previous request for assistance was sent under the name of Shaolin alone. However, this time, the official letter will also include the names of North Hebei Peng Family and Kongtong Sect as the central figures of Righteous Sects. This will change the weight of the message."
"I see."
"They may or may not respond, but at least they will be informed of the situation here."
"Indeed."
Peng Yeop nodded. Even if they did not come to the Yangtze River, these three sects could gain the legitimacy of repelling the invasion of Evil Tyrant Alliance.
"But... the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is here, right?"
At Jonglihyung's question, Beopjeong lowered his head.
"That's why we need to send the official letters even more."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't trust the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."
"Room Bangjang..."
"I'm not denying their heroic deeds. However, no matter how much I think about it, the situation where they entered Plum Blossom Island and came back without a scratch is too unnatural."
"..."
"I wouldn't say this if there were only one or two casualties. But no one died? Are there five dead? The only one who died is Namgung, and in such a situation, can we really trust the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?"
"That is certainly unnatural."
Peng Yeop nodded.
While Jonglihyung still had an uncomfortable expression after seeing the situation on the island, Beopjeong's words sounded much more convincing to Peng Yeop. In other words, to those who had not seen the situation here with their own eyes, Beopjeong's claim sounded closer to the truth.
No. Maybe it didn't matter at all.
People tend to prefer a pleasant lie over an uncomfortable truth, and that's why Peng Yeop had no choice but to believe those words. He suppressed his boiling conscience, remembering the faces of the family elders who looked at him when he left the family.
"So please, help us. If you do, everything will be restored to its rightful place."
"We understand."
"We'll do that."
Once the conversation ended, a strange atmosphere lingered in the room. The two of them bowed slightly and promptly got up from their seats. Beopjeong didn't insist on keeping them any longer.
Alone in the room, Beopjeong slowly rolled the prayer beads in his hand.
Maybe it was a stretch. But...
'If the Evil Tyrant Alliance really attacks Gangbuk, will these words still seem far-fetched then?'
In that case, everything would be reversed. Those who criticized them would turn their blame toward the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. They would say that they could have killed Jang Ilso but backed off because they valued their lives, leading to this situation.
Sometimes, instead of waiting for the course of the river to change, you had to change its course yourself.
'If not me, then who will go to hell?'
He closed his eyes firmly.
In the quiet room, the only sound was the faint rolling of the prayer beads.
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